The Lower Lab School Parent Teacher Association

 

Parents Make the Difference
Parental support and participation are at the core of the Lab School's philosophy. The school encourages and needs parental involvement on many levels--volunteering time, donating goods, services or money--to continue its level of excellence.

Volunteering
It is to the benefit of everyone in the Lab School community, especially the children, that all parents pitch in. There are many volunteer activities to choose from, and all PTA events, activities and projects are the result of the efforts of parent volunteers. Fundraising is one of the chief concerns of the PTA, and your help and leadership will be required to make a success of our efforts. The PTA funds such Lab School "extras" as a music teacher, teaching assistants, a consulting psychologist, the 4th grade opera, the Symphony Space Program, Computer Education, the chess program and even our photocopy machine!

PTA Run 'Fun' and Fundraisers

  • Auction -- The school's annual spring auction is the largest social fundraiser of the year. It's an "adults only" night of fun, food and bidding on the donated goods and services that Lab parents have solicited from all over the city.
  • Book Fair -- In March and November, on the days of parent-teacher conferences, parents and students have an opportunity to browse through and choose from a broad selection of books. Teachers use the proceeds to buy books for their classrooms.
  • Fall Fair -- One weekend day each Fall, the school yard and adjacent street become a carnival of games, rides, activities, entertainment, food and vendors.
  • Family Photo Day -- on November the PTA sponsors a family photo day. A photographer comes to the school to take that long overdue family photo.
  • Gift Wrap -- In September, parents are sent home materials to sell gift wrap. For this fundraiser, parents and students typically sell at home and work, to friends, relatives, neighbors and business associates.
  • Halloween Party -- Each year the PTA has a Halloween Party! Volunteers are needed to plan and implement the party each year.
  • Lunch Clubs -- The PTA runs a variety of lunch clubs. Clubs in the past have included chess, dance, jewelry making, architecture and much more!
  • Magazine Drive -- Lab families raise money by selling and/or renewing subscriptions from a comprehensive selection of general and specialty magazines.
  • Parent Work Day -- Parents are asked to contribute a few hours one or two Saturdays a year to enhance their children's classrooms and the rest of the Lab School building by painting, cleaning, making small repairs, and installing equipment.
  • Pledge Drive -- Every year, each family is asked to make a voluntary contribution to the PTA. This money makes up the largest piece of the PTA's budget. The PTA aims for 100 percent participation of our families, regardless of the amount of the contribution.
  • Potluck Dinner -- Every year in September, the PTA sponsors a potluck dinner for families.
  • Talent Show -- Each spring, parent volunteers coordinate a talent show for those students who wish to participate. The performance takes place on a weekday evening in front of an audience of fellow students, families, friends and invited guests.

PTA Committees

  • Budget -- This committee reviews current year's budget and drafts proposed budget for the upcoming year.
  • Fundraising -- The fundraising committee brainstorms new fundraising ideas and presents them to the executive board for review.
  • Grant -- Members of the grant committee research and apply for grants according to priorities determined by parents, faculty and the administration.
  • Health and Safety -- Members of the health and safety committee research issues and proposes solutions to ensure the health and safety of our children. In addition, the committee oversees the lunchtime playground duty. Parents help supervise the children in the playground during lunch recess. (i.e.. sanitation, bathrooms, recess).
  • LabTalk -- An informal, newsy, monthly bulletin, LabTalk keeps parents current on school happenings and PTA projects. A calendar of events, announcements and committee reports are among the items that are featured.
  • Peer Mediation -- Fifth Graders are trained in Peer Mediation and help out fellow students at lunch and recess when conflicts arise
  • Web Site -- The web site committee is responsible for the development and upkeep of the Lab School's PTA web site.


The PTA
The PTA is established as a Type B not-for-profit corporation to:

  • Serve as an advocate for our children's education.
  • Promote communication and cooperation among the parents, faculty and administration.
  • Encourage parent and teacher interaction and involvement by providing opportunities for members' education on issues pertaining to the children's education.
  • Solicit, receive, maintain and disburse funds to provide materials, equipment, programming, and personnel to assist in the education of the children in the school and as more specifically set forth in it's certificate of incorporation.

All parents, guardians or persons in a parental relationship to children currently attending the New York City Lower Lab School and all teachers are considered members of the PTA. Each family is entitled to one vote and each teacher is entitled to one vote. General PTA meetings are generally held the third Wednesday of every other month.

The PTA Executive Board
The executive board of the PTA governs the PTA according to its accepted bylaws. It is the goal of the executive board to support the vision of the school through fundraising and implementation of programs. Executive Board members are elected in accordance to the bylaws.

The meetings are held the first Tuesday of each month and are open. Anyone from Lab School may attend; however. only elected executive board members are allowed to vote.

In addition to Executive Board meetings and general PTA meetings the PTA also coordinates monthly "Principals Grade Representative" meetings. Each month, elected grade representatives meet with the Principal to discuss matters of concern to parents with students in each grade. (i.e. homework, health and safety, etc.)

The structure of the officers of the PTA is as follows:

Co-Presidents

  • The co-Presidents (2 to 3) preside over the general membership and Executive Board meetings. The Co-Presidents act as liaisons between the parent body and the administration. In addition, the Co-Presidents are ex officio members of all committees (except the Nominating Committee). They have final approval over all PTA-related correspondence. One Co-President is designated to sign checks.


Vice-Presidents
(1) VP of Public Affairs - The First Vice President:

  • act as assistant to the Co-Presidents and preside at meetings in their absence.
  • attend one of two District 2 School Board meetings each month and represent the Lab School as a voting member of Parents' Council.
  • coordinate the attendance of the External Affairs representatives for the remaining School Board Meetings, and other meetings requiring the representation of the PTA.
  • report back monthly to the general membership of the PTA and keep the PTA informed on issues that affect the school.

(2) VP's of Fundraising - The Co-Vice Presidents for Fund Raising plan, coordinate and supervise all fund raising efforts.

 (1) VP of Personnel - The Vice President for Personnel administer personnel policies and payroll for the PTA funded positions.

Co-Secretaries (3)

  • The co-Secretaries (3) share the duties of the Recording and Corresponding Secretaries. The responsibilities include keeping accurate minutes at Executive Board and general PTA meetings and attending to general correspondence of the PTA. They also distribute copies of PTA meeting minutes to parents and notify PTA and board members in advance of all meetings. One Co-Secretary is designated to sign checks.

Treasurer (1) 

  • The Treasurer has custody of all moneys of the PTA, keeps record of receipts and expenditures and provides financial reports. The Treasurer also ensures compliance with all government reporting requirements and is designated to sign checks. The Assistant Treasurer assists the Treasurer and has the responsibility for depositing money received by the PTA.

External Affair Representatives (4)

  • The External Affairs Representatives shall serve as delegates and alternates to the United Parents Association, if and when the Lab School is a member of UPA. Each representative is also required to attend at least three District 2 School Board meetings in addition to other meetings requiring parent representation when the Vice President of Public Relations is unable to attend. The External Affairs Representatives shall assist the Vice President of Public Relations in reporting back monthly to the general membership of the PTA and keeping the PTA informed on issues that affect the school.

Grade Representatives (2 per grade) represent each grade on the Executive Board.

  • The primary function of the Grade Representatives is to facilitate communication among the PTA, the Class Parents and the Executive Board. One grade representative is required to attend the monthly executive board meetings which are held on the first Wednesday of each month. The other grade representative is required to attend the Principal's grade representative meeting.